City of Waterloo

This past Monday at Council was ✨Committee Night ✨. Dedicated committee volunteers came together to share what they’ve accomplished this past year and their plans for the year ahead. We're so grateful for the time and expertise volunteers have shared over the past year, providing advice on topics like: environmental sustainability, protecting historic buildings, economic development, the local cultural scene, the Waterloo Park Plan, promoting active aging, welcoming students and making our community more inclusive and accessible. We look forward to their advice in the coming year on: 🌱 Identifying sustainability indicators for city services. 🏙️ Supporting strategic land development, affordable housing and the update to the Official Plan. 🎨 Revising the city's Culture Plan/Creative Sector Strategy, Economic Development Strategy and the new Amplify Creative Summit. 🌳 Safety, accessibility and mobility improvements to Waterloo Park. During the meeting, staff also gave an update on the City’s 2024-2026 Business Plan: Out of 87 initiatives, three are already complete, and another 78 (90%) are underway and on track!

The following words were shared by Councillor Julie Wright as the Council Chair last evening: "On behalf of City Council, I’d like to express our sadness over the loss of Justice Murray Sinclair, a prominent Indigenous leader in Canada. Murray Sinclair was a respected Anishinaabe lawyer, judge and senator who led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Sinclair dedicated his life to Justice, living a holistic Ceremonial life with his extended family and repairing Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples. It is in part because of Sinclair that we here at the City have committed to advance reconciliation and will continue to respond to the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. We will honour Murray Sinclair’s memory and sacrifice by continuing on the path of reconciliation. With this in mind I’ll share one of his famous quotes: 'We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you a path to the top...We call on you to do the climbing'. This council and our staff pledge to honour his memory and do that climbing." 🧡

For many older adults in Waterloo, a simple grocery trip can make all the difference, and right now, there’s a waiting list of seniors who need that support. If you or someone you know enjoys grocery shopping and has time to spare on a weekday, consider volunteering with us. This little bit of kindness could mean safety, independence and a warm connection to the community for someone who needs it. Requirements: 21+ with a reliable vehicle and a caring heart. Apply at www.waterloo.ca/volunteer Be the reason someone in Waterloo feels cared for and valued ❤️

Racism and hate-motivated acts are not welcome in Waterloo. At Council this past Monday, Councillor Wright put forward a motion asking residents to join city staff and Council in standing against racism and hate and fostering a sense of belonging for everyone in the community. The motion acknowledges a recent report showing that Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo is experiencing the highest rate of police-reported hate crimes in Canada, which have dramatically increased over the past few years. It also recognizes the important work of community partners like the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW in combatting hate, as well as the need for community-wide efforts and municipal cooperation to combat hate and racism across Waterloo Region. Council unanimously reaffirmed their condemnation of racism and hate-motivated incidents, committing to prioritize a preventative and community-led approach to combating racism and hate, internally and in collaboration with external partners. Council will continue to support the work underway by City staff. The motion will be shared with local and area MPs, MPPs and Heads of Council, AMO and the Presidents of Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

Want to do meaningful work that directly impacts the community? We’re hiring for various roles across the city. Be our next: • Customer Service Representative - Municipal Enforcement See full job postings and apply online at <www.waterloo.ca/careers >

Communities thrive when diversity, equity, and inclusion are part of everyday life. There are many ways to foster these values in neighbourhoods, including: 📚 Hosting a book club or movie night with titles that celebrate diversity. 🥳 Empowering neighbours to celebrate their culture, heritage and traditions. 💞 Fundraising for a local organization that works with equity deserving groups. 🤗 Putting up welcoming signs as a physical reminder that your neighbourhood cares. As part of our commitment to a vibrant Waterloo, we support initiatives like this through funding, equipment and resources. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8YN7UCN

Staying informed about city council meetings is an important way to understand decisions that affect your day-to-day life. In Waterloo, Council meetings are regularly scheduled on Mondays. The council calendar on our website lists the meeting times and agendas. All meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on our Youtube channel. Here’s a recap of some of the things we discussed at this past Monday’s Council meeting. ✅ Grants were awarded to Supportive Housing of Waterloo ($345,000) and Central Ontario Co-operative Housing Federation COCHF ($50,000) to create/retain affordable housing units. ✅ Staff presented a review of the city’s annual budget to date. Currently, the city expects a surplus of around $0.8M in the tax base (99% accurate based on the 2024 approved net property tax budget of $100,672,666) and a surplus of $1.1M in enterprise areas. ✅ Update on the neighbourhood splash pads coming to Blue Beech Link and Eastbridge Green, which will include shade and seating - set to open next summer! ✅ Approved new development for a 13-storey apartment building at 249-253 Sunview Street. Find the full summary and recorded meeting here: https://bit.ly/3YhkvLD

We're considering changing our Zoning Bylaw to allow up to four units and four storeys per lot. This means: ➡️ Access to more rental housing options in different areas of the city. ➡️ Homeowners can add up to three more residential units to their property. These can provide independent living space for family members, or a rental income to assist with mortgage payments. ➡️ Seniors can downsize while remaining in their home or move into a unit or coach house to be closer to family. ➡️ Young families can choose an additional rental unit or coach house to stay in the neighbourhood where they grew up, if other forms of housing there are unaffordable. Want to share your feedback about this? We're hosting a virtual public meeting next Wednesday, Oct 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Learn more about this project and other ways to share feedback at: https://lnkd.in/gnGeuPyc

Waterloo residents have great ideas, and we're here to help bring them to life! Neighbours from the MacGregor Albert neighbourhood had the creative idea to make papier mache giraffe heads, paint them and parade them throughout the park. The idea was born out of the neighbourhood's desire to honour Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, a pioneering zoologist, ground-breaking biologist, animal rights activist, feminist and professor who lived in the area. Anne passed away earlier this year at the age of 91 and the community wanted to celebrated her love of giraffes. They applied to our Neighbourhood Fund, which is one of the ways we support a vibrant Waterloo. The fund supports projects that help neighbours develop connections and foster a sense of belonging and applicants can recieve up to $7,500 for their project. Learn more about the fund: https://lnkd.in/guFNJ3BX

Each year, we run our Council for a Day contest and invite Grade 5 students to tell us their one idea to make Waterloo an even better place to live. In 2023, one of the winning ideas was from Norah, who suggested building more more inclusive playgrounds. As it happens, KidsAbility Centre for Child Development, with the support of the city and other partners, had plans for just that. The playground was recently installed and has one of the first wheelchair-accessible swings in the region 🙌 It just goes to show how creative and insightful kids in our community can be! We’re excited to run the contest again in the new year and can’t wait to see the ideas this year’s Grade 5 students will come up with. If you know a Grade 5 student with great ideas, encourage them to participate! Details here: https://lnkd.in/e8iZJvdW 📸: KidsAbility Centre for Child Development